Word or Phrase Use:ect. - Noah spells the abbreviation for the Latin phrase of et cetera as ect whereas modern dictionaries say it should be spelled as etc. because it means "and all the rest" or "and so on and so forth". However, I've noticed that many seniors members of our society, as well as those on the other side of the pond, both in Great Britain and in Europe, spell it as ect. like Noah does.

Legend: * Look under the Categories/Labels in the right side column for more posts on this person/place/thing, or use the search box in the header at the top of this page** see History Notes below​

Chatham England, Jan. 14/17

Mrs. N.C. Draper, Keswick, Ont.-

Dear Wife; - Well Ethel I hope you are all wellas this leaves me at present savefor a cold which is getting better. We are still at drill & am gettinga little better every day, (there isroom for improvement yet) Wewill be in a seaman's classsoon I expect, where we will learnto tie knots & ect. dont knowhardly what all, Well I was down to the Presbyterian church this morningit is about a mile & a half fromthe barracks, & when I got backthe dinner was all gone, so I​

think I will belong to the English churchafter this, it is only 5 minutes walk fromthe hut, hope you have received youranchor before this I think I will be ableto get out next Saturaday after noon ifI can I will get some thing for the kiddies. Have not got any mail since I leftHalifax & may not get any for two weeksyet but am looking every day for aletterI have written to Mother, Percy, Louie, Eva, Ethel, & Mr. Butts, havent I done well. I was down town Friday night from4 30 P.M. untill 7 30 have not been to a showsince I landed but think I will tryto go next week, I am trying to do as Iwould have one in my position do, goody boy, Eh. Well we had snow here one night lastweek about 1 inch but it was all goneby night, we have rain nearly everyother day. Oh say I got my pay a weekago Friday. 54 Shilling that was from thetime we left Halifax & last Friday Igot 1 weeks pay 7 shilling or $1.68 centsof our money, will soon be rich Ha Ha.suppose you have had your paybefore this $38 you get isnt it. never mindI have about 12 pound yet that I broughtwith me have $18. Canadian money yetwill get it changed when I get to Londonbut do not know when that will be.​

I hope you have the money for thehail insurance before this, dontforget to tell me all about it. &wheather that man paid his notewhich I left in the Bank forcollection, also that from Will. Well Ethel I miss my pitcher ofmilk have not had a drink sinceI left Halifax but tonight is mynight out & I am going to try &get some, HaHa. I am going out after tea & think I will go toChurch after supper. I was goingto write to Charlie this after noonbut this is the last of my paperso will have to write later, Well I guess this will be allfor this time hoping to hearfrom you soon I remain your everloving husband. N.C. Draper​​

History Notes​

This is the same map as the last post showing Rochester Castle on the River Medway, as well as HMS Pembroke where Noah is quartered.

I've added a label near HMS Pembroke to show the location of St George's Church of England which Noah refers to as the English Church.

I've added another label to show the location of the Presbyterian Church, 1 1/2 miles southwest of Noah's location. You can see why there wasn't any food left by the time Noah hoofed it back.

An Early 20th Century Street Scene on a Double-Decked Street Car. Courtesy of bbc.co.uk

Noah mentions that sitting in a double decked street car feels like "​riding on a boat swaying sideways." A bbc.co.uk post, ​How did people travel? shows one of the best views I've seen on people riding in a double decked street car and so you can imagine what Noah meant. ​

Author of Letter: Noah C Draper, 29 yrs old, b 1887Dated: Undated (Contents show letter should be dated Jan 7, 1917)Mailed from: Royal Naval Barracks, Chatham, EnglandAttached to: HMS Pembroke Profession: Farmer, Temporary SailorRank: Ordinary SeamanAddressed to: Mrs. N. C. Draper, Keswick, Ont.Relationship: WifeWriting instrument: Fountain Pen with Black InkWriting Paper: 10" x 6.5" medium weight, semi-rough, folded into booklet form. Noah hasn't numbered the pages, but he's using the same technique he used for some of his previously posted courtship letters to Ethel, where his first page is the front "cover", then he's opened it and written on the right side, then moved over to the left side - turned the page sideways - and written there, and finally, he's closed it and written on the back. For clarity, I'm posting the pages in the order they were meant to be read.

​​Legend: * Look under the Categories/Labels in the right side column for more posts on this person/place/thing, or use the search box in the header at the top of this page** see History Notes below​​

Sidebar:P.S. this is my 4th since I landed have you got them all. N.C.D.

16 hut East Camp, Royal Navel Barracks,​Chatham, England.

Mrs. N. C. Draper, Keswick, Ont.Dear Ethel; - Well I am still alive and ableto eat my allowance so am notrun down much yet, hope youare all well, say I posted youan anchor yesteraday you mayget it when you get this it isregistered so you will have tosigne for it. hope you like itdid not know what else to getyou, will send the kiddiessomething next week if I getout. I can go out every othernight from 4 30 pm untill 8 nextmorning but have only been outSat. after noon as the town is​

in darkness & there is not much tosee worth seeing after dark. We were lined up and marched down to the English church this morning. could have went tothe Presbyterian but did not,know it in time but will gothere next Sunday if I can. Was out in Chatham from2 P.M. untill about 7 30/xx last nightwas in 3 stores & a tea room,We have heard described sooften, of course not one of the swellaffairs. Well we will be married 6 yearson the 10 of Jan. we are getting old​eh. the first anniversary to bespent apart & I hope we may betogeather for the next but we can​never tell that far ahead.​

Chatham is quite a town narrow streets& double decked street cars. they are like​riding on a boat swaying sideways. There is a Navel Y M.C.A. here but I havenot been in it yet but want to hunt it​up next week. they have lectures hereevery night or so & I guess they arepretty good. altho. they must sounddissagreeable to some men who do notdo as they should, morally I mean. Thereis a number of new recrutes comes inhere every day altho. I think we arethe last Canadians to arrive here &we have a great deal to learn aboutevery thing. English, even their money​

bothers us at first but we willsoon get used to that I guess. There is a Canadian mail in herenow but it has not been sorted yetso am expecting a letter or twosometime soon. Well I have only been on as cook.hereonce so far but will have anotherturn soon I expect. I dont mindmuch for if we are doing thatwe are not doing any thingelse. have just finished aletter to Eva was afraid if I wroteto you first she would not get a letter, ha ha. I like writingjust as well as ever. Well I guess I will have toclose kiss the babies for meLove to all, from your loving Hubby​ N. C. Draper

History Notes​

​ There are 3 History notes for this letter...

History Note 1 - Y.M.C.A

Begun in 1844 England, the Y.M.C.A. was a social club which served as a home away from home for male travelers as well as soldiers, sailors, and airmen. The facilities were similar as present day with some including a gymnasium and swimming pool, as well as game room, reading room, and a place to partake in wholesome food and refreshments.​

History Note 2 - English Church

I've found "English Church" on Upper Canada and Canada West census records and understand it to mean the Church of England. In Noah's case, he means St George's Church aka the Naval Barracks Church, which was part of HMS Pembroke. The church was built in 1906 and is shown in the next two photos. ​

History Note 3 - Double Decked Street Cars

An early 20th century street scene. Image copyright of the Bishopsgate Institute. Courtesy of bbc.co.uk

​To continue from the top of this post, the bbc.co.uk post, ​How did people travel? goes on to say that in 1900 most vehicles on the Britain's streets were horse-drawn, but by 1914 motor buses and electric trams were more popular for public transportation.

Next to the Royal Naval Barracks was the Pembroke Gate to the Chatham Dockyards where civilian workers and longshoremen worked and maintained the ships. I found this photo at Chatham & District Traction Company which shows double decked trams waiting for the workers at the Pembroke Gate.​

A line of cars waiting for Dockyard workers at Pembroke Gate. Courtesy of Chatham & District Traction Company.

The Friends of Chatham Traction are in the process of restoring, exhibiting and operating the sole surviving Chatham Traction bus, GKE 68, and although it ran 20 years after Noah's naval tour of duty, I'm posting this information as a thank you for allowing their photos to be used and shared for education and promotion.

Sinking of the Linda Blanche out of Liverpool, 1915, Painting by Willy Stower (1864-1931). Courtesy of wikipedia

My previous post showed a map with Noah Draper's presumed route to Chatham, England, according to his letter of Dec 19, 1916 where he wrote that he was headed overseas. Since I read his letters beforehand, I knew he wasn't going straight there, but I didn't want to give out information before Noah himself told us. This letter, dated Dec 29, explains how he arrived in Chatham. Read the History Notes under his letter below for an explanation of how the above image relates to his journey.​

​Author of Letter: Noah C Draper, 29 yrs oldDated: Dec. 29, 1916Mailed from: Chatham, EnglandAttached to: HMS Pembroke (21 Dec 1916 to 31 Dec 1916)Profession: Farmer, Temporary SailorRank: Ordinary SeamanAddressed to: Mrs. N.C. Draper, Keswick, Ont.Relationship: WifeWriting instrument: Fountain Pen with Black InkWriting Paper: 10" x 6.5" medium weight, semi-rough, folded into booklet form. Noah hasn't numbered the pages, but he's using the same technique he used for most of his previously posted courtship letters to Ethel, where his first page is the outside, then he's opened it and written on the right side, then moved over to the left side and written there, and finally, he's closed it and written on the back. For clarity, I'm posting the pages in the order they were meant to be read.

Word or Phrase Use:car - short for street carnavel barracks - Noah's spelling should read naval barracks​Legend: * Look under the Categories/Labels in the right side column for more posts on this person/place/thing, or use the search box in the header at the top of this page** see History Notes below​

Chatham, EnglandDec.29. 1916​

Mrs. N. C. Draper, Keswick, Ont.My Dear Wife & all; - Well I have arrived hereall safe & sound and rightside up & am fealing finegot here last night aftermidnight .left Liverpool about2 P.M. but could not see muchof the country as it gets darkabout 4 P.M. here now. hada fine trip over no roughweather at all they saidalthough I was sick 1 day​

but enjoyed the trip very much. Say I wrote a long letter on board (3 pages) but theN. P. told me it was held up as I was giving informationwhich I had no right togive, but I dont know whatit was so will have to becareful I guess the letters arecensured from Canada toso private news is notprivate. Al that came over herewith me are quartered inone hut. about 50. and we arequite comfortable. there istwo long tables & three is told​off for cooks for each day I

am cook to day. Well I have not been outin the city yet so can nottell you much about theplace but you never seea team hitched up as wehitch them they are alldriven tandem or elsethe tugs are hitched rightonto the frame of the tongueno whiffletrees. but theydraw big loads, of course theroads here are all good nearlyas good as our paved streets. Had supper in London lastnight was there about 45 min.but just took the street car​

from one station to the otherso did not see much (only Lady guards) they take the railwaytickets before you get on the carhere & it saves a lot of trouble. Well I want to write toPercy & Mother so will have haveto close soon in order toget my address on this pageit is N.C Draper. Hut 16 East Camp Royal Navel Barracks, Chatham, England.Will try & send some little presentsnext week if the stores are openwhen I am out on leave, get outevery other night I guess. Well.this is all for now. Write soon, love to​you and the kiddies. N.C. Draper​​

History Notes​

There are 2 History notes for this letter...

History Note 1- Port of LiverpoolIn this letter, Noah mentions that he disembarked at Liverpool and left there shortly after 2 pm, crossed the country, stopped in London for supper, and arrived in Chatham after midnight. Historical references mention Troop trains crossing England. I've also found reference to boat trains carrying troops. Boat trains are dedicated trains carrying passengers from a particular place to/from a port.

However, there was one major hurdle before arriving in Liverpool: In February 1914, Germany had announced that the waters surrounding Great Britain and Ireland, including the English Channel, and the western portion of the North Sea, was a war zone and any ships, be it British, neutral, or merchant, would be fired on and destroyed without warning.

Germany wasn't fooling. In the seven-month period between March and September of 1916, 480 vessels were sunk by German U-boats in that area alone. In case you're wondering, a U-boat stands for undersea boat aka submarine. And that's where the image at the top of this post comes in... you never knew where the U-boats were hiding or if the ship you were traveling on would get fired on by torpedoes. We must never forget the brave captains, sailors, troops, and even passengers who risked everything by running the U-boat gauntlet, and to the ones who lost their lives along the way.

Whatever ship Noah sailed on to get to Liverpool, he would have had to go through U-boat territory, yet he doesn't give Ethel any inkling of the danger.

Upon disembarkation in Liverpool, it seems most troop ships used the Riverside Railway Station to send the troops on their way, and although I couldn't confirm this is the dock where Noah disembarked, considering that I don't know what ship he sailed on, the following shows the station as it appeared around 1914.

The Port of Liverpool's 7.5 mile/12.1 kilometre dock system is mostly on the eastern shore of the River Mersey, but also contains docks on the west side of the river. See wikipedia for detailed 1909 maps of the dock system.​

History Note 2- Whiffletrees

In this letter, Noah mentions that the British don't use wiffletrees, so here's the definition of a whiffletree and it's other name variants.

Wiffletree, whippletree, swingletree

Four-hitch with a set of whiffletrees. Courtesy of wikipedia

He goes on to say that instead of using a single or set of whiffletrees as pictured above, the British hitch their horses in tandem or right onto the frame of the tongue. Tugs and traces are also regional name variants as you can see by the following diagram.​

Harness Diagram. Courtesy of wikipedia

To end this post, here's an image of two ponies being driven in tandem, much as you would see two riders on a tandem bicycle. ​I wonder if this is what Noah meant.